camera/lens advice please

Miranda F wrote: I also plan to carry on using APS-C lenses (E and A-mount) where convenient as these fill in the fast prime gaps. Which brings me to another point: I have previously criticised the camera manufacturers and photo press for giving the ‘FF equivalent’ focal lengths freely but never converting the apertures too, but I’ve now decided they’re right! If you stick an APS-C lens on an FF camera the image is cropped, either as you take the picture or else afterwards. Sure, I’ve heard all the shtick about the reduction in light- gathering power and the increase in DOF, but I’m rarely concerned about either of those. The fact is, that a 35mm f1.8 DT APS-C lens gives roughly the same angle of view as a 50mm f1.8 FF lens and it also needs exactly the same shutter speed fully open, which is my main requirement for a fast lens. I think that most of the discussions about equivalence never really moved on from film portraiture. So the A-mount SAM lenses (30, 35, 50, 85mm) are likely to be quite useful on the LA-EA1 or 3 when I want an f1.8-f2.8 prime, and I have several MF primes I can use on dumb adapters too. The little PK-mount Miranda 50mm F2 lens is not that long even on an LA-EA3, and I have some classic Zeiss primes too for when I feel nostalgic. Rather disappointing the LA-EA5 doesn't AF with screw-drive lenses on most of the A7 range, but I’ll try taking the baffles out of the LA-EA1 and see how that does before trading in the LA-EA2 for a 3 or 4.

I recommend selling the SAM and APS-C primes and the LA-EA adapter(s) and buying native full-frame AF lenses.


Edited by QuietOC - 06 January 2021 at 21:01

@Miranda F

I'm quite the fan of the 3rd generation A7 cameras and I think the a7iii should last for many years, generating great images. Some manual focus lenses work very nicely with dumb adapters on these cameras. And you can manually enter the focal length to get the best out of the camera's stabilisation system.

So it looks like a good plan. The only advice I have would be to (eventually) get some E-mount AF lenses rather than rely on your adapted A-mount ones. To really take advantage of the camera's AF system, the native E-mount lenses work much better.

dCap wrote: I have considered getting an APS camera too for certain things. The Sony 10-18/4 interests me a lot. But it'll be 2022/2023 before I entertain a second body. By which time I'll continue to watch what else gets released. a6400 + 10-18/4 + 16-70/4 pair were an option I considered (but that is a chunk more cash than I was aiming to drop on full-frame). In about 6 months time I'll decide if I want to try a few other lenses in the short term ... gonna live 28mm for 3 months first though (probably Apr-Jun when going outside is allowed again).

Yes, the A6xxx cameras with IBIS are much too expensive for me too, but I can really recommend the Nex-6 which has a nice control arrangement and works very well, for not a lot of money s/h, and some of the lenses are . The Samyang (MF) 12mm f2 is a lovely lens on this camera, and so is the later Meike 35mm f1.7 MF - real classic appeal.
Snags?
- No IBIS, but it's easy to hand-hold at slow shutter speeds.
- No usable AF with A-mount lenses on the LA1/3 despite claims otherwise, but you get aperture control and data.

QuietOC wrote: I recommend selling the SAM and APS-C primes and the LA-EA adapter(s) and buying native full-frame AF lenses.

Ah, but I will most likely be retaining the Nex-6 and the E-mount APS-C lenses for those occasions where size matters more than FF. I will keep the Sony A-mount and a few of the others, like the macro and tele lenses, and those FF primes and zooms that are useful on film even if I wouldn't pick them for digital (the 19-35mm for example).

Also, my photography style doesn't often put much stress on focussing (except when it does, of course ...) so I enjoy MF lenses so long as I remember to ficus them (note to self - don't mix AF and MF lenses in the gadget bag )

But I will have to get rid of a lot of the Minoltas just to make space.    

Samyang 14/2.8 I consider too exotic for me. Have only viewed things that wide on one lens and that is a decade ago. Might re-think it if I got to enjoy the 18/2.8 but I'd probably stay in the 18-50 zone. While the 55/1.8 gets super stella reviews I need a macro in my life and prefer to carry just a camera and one lens (perhaps a 2nd in the bag) and that will be 28/2 + 50/macro.

I've shifted to preferring a much wider view than I used to shoot at.

dCap wrote: The 24s + 35s would be neat to think of as alternatives to my 28/2. And the 35/2.8s have to both be tried at starkly different price points. Sony 35/2.8 would be used. I love the idea of the 35/2.8 and would be nice to have a lens that small (despite some negative reviews, I could see the Sony 35/2.8 being a keeper as a super small (and WR) option).

I used both the 2.8/3 & 2/28. Where I think the 35 is the better overall lens. The 28 is a bit punchier thnx to its f2, distortion is a issue, even with Ligtroom profile correction. Stiil own the 28, but don't use it much. I found it a much better lens using it on a APS-C body (42mm).

I sold the 2.8/35 after 1,5 years. I liked its images, but never realy WOW-ed me. I got the Voigtlander 1.7/35 Utron and never looked back. Sharp in centre, smooth bokeh, nice colours and amazing build quality. After years of heavy use, not a scratch or dent, looks and feels like new

There is only 1 24mm in FE mount that steals all the prices; 1.4/24 GM. For me to wide as a general everyday lens.

This is not a review - I think you need at least 3 months of regular use to start thinking about writing a review - this is just some very early first impressions.

For perspective - this is here for the very few people who have not yet gotten into Sony FE and are also considering starting out with an A7II. An old model, but still available new. And I hope they keep this available new for many more years. I'm also coming to this fresh from 10 years in m43 (mainly Olympus). After a failed attempt to switch to APS with the Fujifilm cameras (X100F, X-T30, X-E3, X-T3). I didn't enjoy the handling on any of the Fujifilm cameras.

Note that I've never handled a NEX, a5xxx, a6xxx, or A7 model before. The last Sony dSLR/mirrorless camera I touched was my a100 many years ago. SLT was not something that interested me.

A big RX100
This is gonna sound real weird. And since I got a used Sony RX100 IV in June 2020 (primarily as a take with me everywhere, everyday, 365-ish, camera). The RX100 IV was my first Sony camera since the a100 which I got in 2006/7? I shot 180-ish days of a 365 with my RX100 IV and as a result got very used to it very quickly. I'd come from a decade on m43 and have always had a touchscreen camera (since whichever model Olympus started having touch screen?). I shot a lot with the RX100 IV in the 6 months from June to December 2020.

So, coming to an A7II kinda fresh but also after 6 months of daily heavy RX100 IV use ... the A7 II is just like a big RX100! The Q menu (or whatever it is called) is identical. Button layout is very similar, but I have some more custom buttons. I like that I am already familiar with it.

Learning the RX100 was kinda novel, but my learning on the A7 II is sort of done on Day One. It is very much part of the Sony family. This is a good thing, if I want to add a a6100 or a6400 then I know I'm stepping into familiarity.

The trolls reviews that hate on Sony handling have missed the fact that some people might be coming from RX100 or a6xxx models and the transition to the A7II is seamless. Nicely done Sony.

Sure Sony are famous for having the worse menu structure in the world but after initial set-up I don't menu dive anyway. What I do is look through every single menu item and option (except video which I don't shoot), and then set what I think I want. Then after a month of use I will go back and read every menu option again - this reminds me of things I might have missed but also a chance to swap a setting. From there I very very rarely touch the inner menus. I just rely on the mini Q menu.

Build & Buttons
Build quality seems really good. Since there isn't a camera shop on the small island that I live on - and since travel is restricted and a lot of physical stores closed - I had to buy this camera having never ever handled one. I also bought my RX100 blind.

Button are nice and solid. I can see the critique in some of the back dial feel but being familiar with the RX100 I'm pleased with all the buttons.

I like the overall build - it feels solid. On a par with the excellent build of the Panasonic GX9 (and GX80). But the bonus being that that the A7II is sealed. Looks like it'll cope with daily use (when I'm allowed outside again for leisure activity).

The rear tilt LCD is very similar to the RX100 IV. It feels a little thinner, and I'm not sure why. The RX100 IV screen is a lot easier to unclip from the bottom whereas the A7II is easier to unclip from the top and then the bottom.

I'm probably a 60/40 EVF/LCD shooter so that LCD is important to me. I've had the side-swivel (Pan G80) and having wanted that orientation for years much prefer the RX100/A7 tilt-only plane.

EVF
Very good but not brilliant. I'm surprized this isn't better/nicer looking inside. I have been spoilt with some excellent EVF. I'd give this one a firm grade B.

I like the position. Jutting out looks odd but works well. Diopter has nice click stops (not all cameras have click stops!).

Power
Not including an external charger is a poor decision. Charging in-camera is a pretty horrible experience. Yes it is nice to have. But there is no way that door or that port are going to last 3+ years of regular/heavy use. If you are a heavy user get an external charger. Like my RX100 IV, I've charged the battery ONCE in camera and bought a third-party external charger after the very first charge 'experience'.

Battery life has been a known issue for all mirrorless cameras. I did buy a spare battery already. I don't understand why Sony bundle two batteries in some cameras and not this one? Perhaps the R and S are more thirsty? We know the batteries probably only cost $10 to make, include a 2nd one please.

This is mentioned somewhere in the forum - but I had the 'camera forgets date/time' issue on day one. You need to power this thing up and set the menus and then keep using it for a bit or the internal battery (used for date/time/menus doesn't charge up). If you just turn it on set the date, spend 3 mins in menus and then power down you will be greeted with a 'set date/time' screen at next power up. I'm gonna call this a design flaw straight out of the gate. I've never had that issue with any other camera. And I've had Canon, KM, Sony, Nikon, Oly, Pan dSLRs. My A7II was made 10-2020 (Oct) and bought Dec - this should not happen and is a pretty horrible onboarding experience. I can imagine many stores are used to fielding the call of 'my camera is faulty'. Sony need to fix this problem. I knew this was an issue, in advance, but was surprized given the Oct-Dec time to see it be a thing. Very poor internal design there.

Battery life is shown in % and this is great (wish all cameras did this, they don't).

Sensor Clean
Be sitting down when you first do this. It is quite a thunk! I've had sensor clean on many cameras in the past and they are all audible. But this one is a shock! You certainly know it is doing something!! Not sure how often it cycles that or how often people initiate it?

Manual Focus
While I am not a particularly big fan of manual focus, I do have my eye on a future Voigtländer lens (for obvious reasons for the people that know me in the real world). So manual focus (with 28/2) was an early thing I tried. Again, being familiar with how this works on RX100 IV I think this is nicely done. I'd happily get a manual focus lens for certain things.

I do have a very wild and long term aim to have just one lens one day ... and that might even be manual focus. This is something I've considered for a couple of years. I'd happily do it with this camera.

28/2 & 50/1.8
The 28/2 was my firm first lens. Too early to say if I like it. Build and size are good. AF does what it should.

Had a look at the 21mm and FishEye clip on things (which is not part of the reason I got this lens). And they are really heavy. Might need to look into how well they perform and might consider one/both. I honestly hate the idea of clipping on something but these are designed by Sony for this lens only and the camera will also detect that the 21mm or Fish view has been seen. They are pretty expensive though (good/bad - means there is probably some decent design).

50/1.8 - I'll admit I put about 3 mins thought into getting this lens. I want and will get the 50/2.8 macro. But this was half-price with my A7II ... no brainer. I knew I'd grab a used one one day - so why not half price new! Cheaper! Also means I can use it in studio (I was aiming at 28-70 kit bundle but got the 50mm instead). I will also possibly just keep this until, like, you know, week50mm. I grabbed a Hoya Close-up +3 to use as a temporary macro.

28/2 is going to me my daily (from April) and I'll probably leave the 50mm at home for studio shots of flowers and stuff.

Touch
I still don't miss my touchscreen. Thought I would with the RX100 IV (which is one of the big reasons I got it used). But I value EVF and Tilt rear LCD so much more than the touch screen. I had touchscreen on the Fujifilm X-E3 and actually turned that feature off.

Formats
I find it odd that I can only have 3:2 and 16:9 frames to shoot. My RX100 gives me square (and I shot all 180 days in square format). Later A7 models also offer square I think?

Overall
I am perfectly happy with this camera. I'm looking forward to using it. And since I have near zero learning curve (thanks to the RX100 IV) I'm ready to hit the streets running (in April).

What Next
I haven't decided what format I'm going to aim for with the A7II yet. I might just shoot everything in 16:9 (I don't really like 3:2). I wish I could shoot 1:1. Am waiting for lockdown to end (mid-February or end March?) before using it outside. Until then I'll get playing in the studio.

I'm pleased with all three items - A7 II - 28/2 - 50/1.8. But the 50/1.8 probably won't be here forever. 50 Macro will replace it one day.